“Youve got no heart. Cant you see how much Olivers struggling? Hes your brotheryou couldve helped him out. You only ever think about yourself.”
Mum rang me the other day and told me to clear out all my things from her flat. “We can barely move in here with all your clutter,” she said.
This all started after I refused to give my brother, Oliver, money for a deposit on a house. And yeah, I mean *give*, not lend, because lets be honesthed never pay me back.
When I said no, Oliver stormed out of my place, absolutely fuming. He was dead certain Id just hand over my savings because hes got a wife and kids, and I dont.
I need to get this off my chest because my familys being completely unfair, especially right before Christmas.
When I moved to Manchester for uni, I got a part-time job straight away. First, I lived in halls, then shared a flat with a mate. I didnt want to rely on my parents, so I worked my backside offnot just to support myself but to help Mum out too.
She never outright asked for money, but there was always *something* she neededclothes, shoes, bits for the house. And whenever I visited, Id turn up with bags full of groceries.
Mum lives in a three-bed flat with Oliver. Dad passed away three years ago.
Oliver never cared much for studying. After school, he went to work in Scotland, but the only thing he managed to buy was a beat-up car. When he came back, he started driving a cab.
Then he got married and moved his wife, Sophie, into Mums place. Money was always tight because Oliver lived paycheque to paycheque. The second he and Sophie got paid, it was all gone.
Both Mum and Sophies parents were always bailing them out. Oliver knew someone would always step in, so he never bothered to earn more or sort his finances.
Now, Oliver and Sophie have two kids, with a third on the way. Theyve decided Mums flat is too small and want to buy their own place.
Meanwhile, Im renting a flat with my boyfriend, James. Were planning to get married but holding off till were more settled. Were doing alrightJames is a software engineer, and I run a few online shops. We dont splash out on nonsense; were saving for our own place so weve got somewhere to live after the wedding.
Mum knew about our plans, but she still nudged Oliver to ask me for money. “They want to buy a house, but they havent got the deposit,” she told me.
When Oliver came over and straight-up demanded cash, I said no. He was livid. He reckoned I *owed* him, just because hes got a family and I dont.
Later, Mum called and said, “Youve got no heart. Cant you see how much Olivers struggling? Hes your brotheryou couldve helped him. You only ever think about yourself.”
Then she dropped this: “Come get your stuff from the flat. We cant move with all your junk here. And dont bother coming for Christmas. Olivers furious, and I dont much fancy seeing you either.”
I didnt argue. Ill pick up my things and squeeze them into my rented flat. And when James and I buy our own place, Ill move them there.
I *couldve* lent Oliver the money, but I know Id never see it again. And he didnt even ask for a loanhe just expected me to hand over my savings.
All because hes got kids
What would you do in my shoes?
